Toronto Life once said, “Bloor-Yorkville is the destination for everything from a luxury handbag and dazzling jewels to a vacation outfit and a gourmet meal with a side of extravagant people-watching.” And, come holiday time, it’s also the perfect spot to check everyone off your gift list, with the city’s best shopping lining the granite-paved streets. We’ve scouted out a route with the neighbourhood’s most delightful designer shops featuring luxurious gifts for the home. After all, winter is the perfect time to cozy up indoors.

With an enviable location on Bloor Street West, Cielo offers the best of the city, right outside your front door. Stroll across to the Mink Mile, one of the world’s most deluxe shopping streets, taking in the spectacular festive lights and Urban Campfire Benches along the way; the captivating fixtures will be lit up in holiday colours all season long, warming the way to luxury retail.

Stop in at Louis Vuitton (150 Bloor St. W.) where, in addition to one of the most recognizable patterns in the world, you’ll find a whole host of gifts for the home including monogrammed wine kits, bookends in the signature flower motif, and a Gaston Doll Santa Claus, named for the grandchild of the original luxury trunk maker.

Head across the street and pop into William Ashley (131 Bloor St. W.), a stunning multi-level space with an exquisite collection of tableware, giftware, and art pieces. From the classic (Waterford crystal ornaments) to the completely unexpected (a cheeky Muse-Bouche scented candle by Jonathan Adler, adorned with lips), the store offers up inspiration at every price point.

Continue on your journey to Hermès (100 Bloor St. W.) for the ultimate indicator of home luxury, the classic Hermès Avalon blanket with its iconic whip stitch edges. Available in myriad colourways, this heavenly blend of wool and cashmere is the perfect way to stay cozy when temperatures drop.

By this point you might need a little nibble to keep you going - enter Eataly (55 Bloor St. W.), the gourmet food emporium that brings a taste of the dolce vita to Bloor Street West. Warm up with a tiramisu latte or a sinfully rich cup of hot cocoa (essentially a shot of liquid chocolate). There are also a selection of restaurants and kiosks for a flatbread, an insalata, or a panino to go!

With your tummy taken care of, head across the street to Canada’s oldest department store, Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor St. W.). The 180,000-square-foot store is a mecca of fashion, but their home department is equally not to be missed. From kitchen to tech, home fragrance to delightful décor, you'll discover a plethora of beautiful gift ideas. For an added nod to sustainability, shop items from H Project, a curated collection of products from around the world that support local cultures and communities, with minimal impact on the environment.

Just a few steps off of Bloor, you’ll find the charming laneways of Yorkville where the Aesop boutique (94 Cumberland St.) has everything you need to give the gift of scintillating scents. Shop candles and room sprays, incense or the brand's signature hand washes. One whiff of the citrus, woody, and herbaceous aromatics and you'll be hooked.

With your olfactory senses still primed, head to Diptyque (101 Yorkville Ave.). The world-renowned perfume house and purveyor of home fragrance (including the iconic black and white-labelled candles) has released a limited edition of holiday scents including Sapin (pine), Délice (delight), and Coton (cotton). Can't decide? Pick up the Diptyque advent calendar with 25 scented treasures your loved ones can enjoy all month long.

The final stop on our retail adventure? Teatro Verde (55 Avenue Rd.), the celebrated florist-turned-ultimate choice for unique gifts and beautiful home décor. A Yorkville institution for more than a quarter of a century, this colourful retail space is bursting with blooms, books, décor, and more. Come for a bouquet, stay for the one-of-a-kind finds.

Throughout every season, Cielo offers an inspired location in Toronto’s celebrated Arts & Cultural hub. Get out and discover the magic of the holidays.

Stay up-to-date on Cielo news by following us on Instagram, LinkedIn, or X, and liking us on Facebook.